Controller's office to review DEA grant for helicopter training

holy crap Katy, could you jam a few more topics into this piece? As far a drive-by reporting goes it was a decent job, but this readers digest version of the day at the BOS is a little TOO condensed, the bit on lampson field didn't do the subject justice by any stretch.

You left out the fact that $700,000 in federal funding was likely lost because public works was too slow in coming up with a plan to spend it that the FAA would approve of, another big blow-it by former dept head Gerry Shaul. You left out the fact that the business park idea is dying if not dead, but that's OK, even some of the supes didn't get that (Tony).

BTW, Tony announced he's running for state assembly in 2014, so everything he does between now and then will be gearded towards that goal, and there was plenty of evidence of that seen on Tuesday.

Comstock IS naive if he believes the Auditor/Controller's office isn't effected by politics.

The real question should have been whether or not the staff in the Auditor/Controller's office has the expertise to audit the federal grant.

MS. Grant,
Try searching for a Forensic Accountant using Google. My quick search for Northern CA came up with 41,600 hits!!! I guess considering the state of politics in Northern CA there may be quite the demand for their services. However I really doubt only a couple are willing to take on Lake Countie's investigation needs.
I smell another steaming pile of S#*t trying to be passed off as foie gras.
Thanks Tony for having the guts to remember who you represent. Other board members shame on you. You still don't get it. The citizens of this county want real unbiased answers. WE WILL REMEMBER THIS VOTE COME REELECTION TIME. Get on the right side of this NOW or start sending out your resumes.

I wonder why Rob is in such a hurry to get this resolved District Supervisor “Says No” To
Illegal Cash Crop!
In another odd bit of logic, Rob stated at his 1st campaign shindig `'I want to examine our priorities and raise the pay of these [sheriffs] deputies even if we must give up something else".

It is simply absurd that taxpayers (either local, state or federal, it's OUR money!) would ever be in a position to pay for a commercial pilot license for a deputy or anyone else. That's training you get either in the military or out of your own pocket.

There are millions of better ways to have tax dollars spent. What would prevent Garzolli from quitting the day after he gets licensed for a better paying private job? Does he have a contract that guarantees us his services for 10 years after we foot the bill? As I recall struggles to keep a car upright on the ground, can't imagine him flying without crashing. Guess I don't have to. Just another case of cops gone wild I guess.

The reason Garzoli was getting his license was to help convince "whoever?" that Mitchell needed his "OWN" Helicopter program. Then he could say,To the BOS "Now I got my own pilot all I need is a helicopter." OK?

Lowell Grant wrote:

It is simply absurd that taxpayers (either local, state or federal, it's OUR money!) would ever be in a position to pay for a commercial pilot license for a deputy or anyone else. That's training you get either in the military or out of your own pocket.
There are millions of better ways to have tax dollars spent. What would prevent Garzolli from quitting the day after he gets licensed for a better paying private job? Does he have a contract that guarantees us his services for 10 years after we foot the bill? As I recall struggles to keep a car upright on the ground, can't imagine him flying without crashing. Guess I don't have to. Just another case of cops gone wild I guess.

Really? Seems to me that once he was qualified, the cost to lease a helicopter would have been greatly reduced, saving taxpayer money. Considering that the "stick time" experience was done during missions, so the expenditure was already going to happen anyway. As I understand it, the cost to lease that particular helicopter and pilot was LESS than the regular helicopter service they had been using in previous years. Yeah, so he got beneficial training out of it, so what? All of our residents would have benefitted too. The rest of your comments are cheap shots and not worthy of responding to.

Eyes Wide Open wrote:

The reason Garzoli was getting his license was to help convince "whoever?" that Mitchell needed his "OWN" Helicopter program. Then he could say,To the BOS "Now I got my own pilot all I need is a helicopter." OK?

So what, the county spends tens of thousands of dollars annually (DEA GRANT) on helicopter flight time. They will do the same thing next year. Had they been able to reduce the cost of flight time by having a qualified pilot on the payroll, that would mean more money available for training, equipment and personnel since

They could also use it for other purposes like the time those guys robbed the house and hid in Hidden Valley. With a qualified pilot they could have had a helicopter in the air much sooner and perhaps caught them quicker. Seems to me like it was an attempt to do more with less. I can appreciate that.

Wow says "The rest of your comments are cheap shots and not worthy of responding to."
I say good shut up!!!! No ones cares about your thoughts any way.
Grant monies must be spent per the terms of the grant. if there is a variance then the county runs the risks of penalties or loss of future grants. This is serious business folks. It needs to be addressed by outside unbiased professionals. It counld have big negative implications for Lake County if they are audited by an outside group and found to be out of compliance. The problem here seems to be everyone but Farington still thinks nobody is watching them. Someone wake up the BOS there is a there is alot of interest outside of this county about what goes on inside the county lines.
The culture of GOB needs to stop!!!

I AGREE WITH WOW! There are better was to spend our money!!!Questions About Helicopter Santa

Santa Clause's red suit looked striking in front of the large army green helicopter and the green grass. Mount Konocti rose behind the scene that could have been a movie. Teachers lined the children up single file and Santa greeted each one, shaking each small hand and giving each a small gift.

Was this worship? Is this how the wise men greeted the new baby, the mysterious Christ child that slept in the manger many years ago? Or is this how we would treat the Martians if they landed on the field near the school?

Come to find out, Santa's helicopter visit is part of the Marijuana Eradication Effort, according to Sergeant Dave Garzoli of the Lake County Sheriff's Department. According to Garzoli, each child received a candy cane, a sheriff's badge, and print outs about the dangers of drugs, including the dangers of marijuana.
What do other people think about this? Is this brain washing propaganda? The children learn all about Rudolph, Santa, and receive badges, yet songs about the birth of Jesus and God are forbidden. Then why are we still repeating the pledge of allegiance every morning in the public schools, "One nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all."?
At least we can still ask questions

Was Garzoli on his way back from Ukiah when he Performed his "Landing?"What was he doing over there? When He could have been flying over Robs place.

Wow wrote:

<quoted text> So what, the county spends tens of thousands of dollars annually (DEA GRANT) on helicopter flight time. They will do the same thing next year. Had they been able to reduce the cost of flight time by having a qualified pilot on the payroll, that would mean more money available for training, equipment and personnel since
They could also use it for other purposes like the time those guys robbed the house and hid in Hidden Valley. With a qualified pilot they could have had a helicopter in the air much sooner and perhaps caught them quicker. Seems to me like it was an attempt to do more with less. I can appreciate that.

From what I've been reading the lessons were on the sly. If it had been above board the current situation would be a non-issue.

Wow wrote:

<quoted text>There's no evidence theses funds were spent outside of the allowances of the grant. So why don't you shut up?

Questions About Helicopter Santa

Santa Clause's red suit looked striking in front of the large army green helicopter and the green grass. Mount Konocti rose behind the scene that could have been a movie. Teachers lined the children up single file and Santa greeted each one, shaking each small hand and giving each a small gift.

Was this worship? Is this how the wise men greeted the new baby, the mysterious Christ child that slept in the manger many years ago? Or is this how we would treat the Martians if they landed on the field near the school?

Come to find out, Santa's helicopter visit is part of the Marijuana Eradication Effort, according to Sergeant Dave Garzoli of the Lake County Sheriff's Department. According to Garzoli, each child received a candy cane, a sheriff's badge, and print outs about the dangers of drugs, including the dangers of marijuana.
What do other people think about this? Is this brain washing propaganda? The children learn all about Rudolph, Santa, and receive badges, yet songs about the birth of Jesus and God are forbidden. Then why are we still repeating the pledge of allegiance every morning in the public schools, "One nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all."?
At least we can still ask questions

Just moved here wrote:

<quoted text>
From what I've been reading the lessons were on the sly. If it had been above board the current situation would be a non-issue.

That's exactly the point. And now that we know it wasn't above board,What We want to know is, If they will try and get away with something like that in broad daylight,With all that noise. What are they doing behind closed doors and under the table?

Eyes Wide Open wrote:

Was Garzoli on his way back from Ukiah when he Performed his "Landing?"What was he doing over there? When He could have been flying over Robs place.

Getting gas jackass, exactly what was reported, and despite Phil MUrphy's claim to the contrary, Ukiah airport is closer to some points in the mendocino forrest than Lampson.

0U812 IC wrote:

<quoted text>Questions About Helicopter Santa
Santa Clause's red suit looked striking in front of the large army green helicopter and the green grass. Mount Konocti rose behind the scene that could have been a movie. Teachers lined the children up single file and Santa greeted each one, shaking each small hand and giving each a small gift.

At least we can still ask questions

I have a question. Just how many screen names do you use? Sockpuppet. And you're not even smart emough to change them back and forth. That laughing you're hearing is NOT us laughing with you. BTW, in case you didn't know, that helicopter was a UH-60 belonging to the National Guard. You can't rent them, so no, that wasn't part of the DEA grant money.

Wow wrote:

<quoted text>Getting gas ****, exactly what was reported, and despite Phil MUrphy's claim to the contrary, Ukiah airport is closer to some points in the mendocino forrest than Lampson.

Is that you Garzoli?

Wow wrote:

<quoted text>There's no evidence theses funds were spent outside of the allowances of the grant. So why don't you shut up?

good grief, first you're a water carrrier for perdo, now it's garzoli,who's next? Dave snuck the part about the lessons into the operational plan after it was drafted so no one knew about it, he personally negotiated the contract that got him a commercial rotory wing license worth $50-$60K with NO gaurantee he would stay in the department, he lied about being off duty at the time of the incident, and he spent a hell of a lot of OUR dough on fancy helicopter flying duds for himself-and oh yeah, he created a situation where the county could have been sued for every dime it had if anyone got hurt or property damaged. Yep, dave's a hell of fine example of leadership material, when the stuff hits the fan he starts cranking out the BS, I can see why you're so quick to defend him.

Philip Murphy wrote:

<quoted text>
good grief, first you're a water carrrier for perdo, now it's garzoli,who's next? Dave snuck the part about the lessons into the operational plan after it was drafted so no one knew about it, he personally negotiated the contract that got him a commercial rotory wing license worth $50-$60K with NO gaurantee he would stay in the department, he lied about being off duty at the time of the incident, and he spent a hell of a lot of OUR dough on fancy helicopter flying duds for himself-and oh yeah, he created a situation where the county could have been sued for every dime it had if anyone got hurt or property damaged. Yep, dave's a hell of fine example of leadership material, when the stuff hits the fan he starts cranking out the ****, I can see why you're so quick to defend him.

Don't worry Phil, He/She/it, only try's to intimate women,minority's, seniors, and handicapped. and even they laugh at him?

Wow wrote:

<quoted text>
Really? Seems to me that once he was qualified, the cost to lease a helicopter would have been greatly reduced, saving taxpayer money. Considering that the "stick time" experience was done during missions, so the expenditure was already going to happen anyway. As I understand it, the cost to lease that particular helicopter and pilot was LESS than the regular helicopter service they had been using in previous years. Yeah, so he got beneficial training out of it, so what? All of our residents would have benefitted too. The rest of your comments are cheap shots and not worthy of responding to.

County employees don't fly helicopters...nor is there insurance covering county employee's fly bys..just another rip off